London: The wife of Khalid Masood says she is "saddened and shocked" by his attack on Westminster and "totally" condemns his actions.

In a statement released via the Press Association, Rohey Hydara expressed her condolences for Masood's four victims and the 50 more people who were injured last Wednesday during his attack. Masood used a rented vehicle to mow down pedestrians on the Westminster Bridge before stabbing a police officer outside the Houses of Parliament, where he was himself shot dead.

"I am saddened and shocked by what Khalid has done. I totally condemn his actions," she said. "I express my condolences to the families of the victims that have died, and wish a speedy recovery to all the injured.

"I would like to request privacy for our family, especially our children, at this difficult time," she said.

Her statement came as police formally provided evidence to the coroner, Dr Fiona Wilcox, ahead of two inquests to be opened and adjourned this week. The beginning of the inquests this week is procedural only, to allow the coroner to begin investigating.

The first inquest will be into the deaths of Masood's four victims: PC Keith Palmer, mother-of-two Aysha Frade, 75-year old Leslie Rhodes and American tourist Kurt Cochrane. It will open and adjourn on Wednesday afternoon local time at Westminster's Coroner's Court. It took Masood just 82 seconds to carry out the carnage in the heart of London.

The second inquest will be into the death of Masood, who was shot dead after he stabbed 48-year old PC Palmer inside the Parliamentary yard last Wednesday.

Adrian Ajao in 1979 or 1980 when he was 15 or 16 years old.

"At this stage the Met will not confirm provisional cause of death," Scotland Yard said in a statement.

"Clearly an interest in Jihad"

Shortly after the attack, Islamic State claimed Masood was one of their "soldiers."

The Union Jack flag flies at half mast above the Houses of Parliament following the attack on Westminster.Credit:Getty Images

But police said that while his crude attacked echoed Islamic State, there is no evidence the 52-year old had any contact with the jihadists, who are under attack in Mosul, Iraq and Raqqa in Syria.

"Whilst I have found no evidence of an association with IS or al-Qaeda, there is clearly an interest in Jihad," said Neil Basu, Senior National Coordinator for UK Counter Terrorism Policing.

The Preston Park Hotel in Brighton, United Kingdom, where Khalid Masood stayed the night before he murdered four people in a terror attack in Westminster.Credit:Bryn Lennon

Police still believe Masood carried out his attack alone but are focussed on finding out who he communicated with via the encrypted WhatsApp messaging service shortly before his rampage down Westminster Bridge.

"His attack method appears to be based on low sophistication, low tech, low cost techniques copied from other attacks, and echo the rhetoric of IS leaders in terms of methodology and attacking police and civilians, but at this stage I have no evidence he discussed this with others," Mr Basu said.

Islamic State has urged the use of trucks and cars as weapons to be used against innocent people, a tactic adopted in the attack on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France and in Berlin, Germany last year.

Police also dismissed as "pure speculation" reports that Masood was radicalised in prison in 2003.

"There is no evidence that Masood was radicalised in prison in 2003, as has been suggested; this is pure speculation at this time."

Masood was born Adrian Russell Ajao in Kent, one of the home counties surrounding London.

He changed his name to Khalid Masood in 2005 but amassed a number of aliases including Adrian Elms.

"We miss him terribly"

Kurt and Melissa Cochrane.

Kurt Cochrane was holidaying in London with his wife Melissa to celebrate their wedding anniversary when he was hit on Westminster Bridge by Masood, who was driving a rented Hyundai.

Family friend Clint Payne said on behalf of Ms Cochrane: "The most difficult part of all of this is that Kurt is no longer with us, and we miss him terribly.

Loading

"He was an amazing individual who loved everyone and tried to make the world a better place. He left a legacy of generosity and service that continues to inspire us."